Brisworthy Stone Circle

Also known as:
Monument No. 438683
Nearest town:
Plympton (9km SSW)
OS reference:
SX565655
OS sheet:
202
Latitude:
50° 28' 15.98 N
Longitude:
4° 1' 20.7 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by costaexpress

Rather taken by surprise at the size of this circle and the wonderful atmosphere despite being relatively close to civilisation, a place to linger

costaexpress
costaexpress Mar 27, 2022
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by costaexpress

There is a small plantation to the west of Brisworthy with a rather deeply rutted car park (need good ground clearance or 4x4), easy to find from here

costaexpress
costaexpress Mar 27, 2022
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by postman

The circles down here don’t have portal stones.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jun 27, 2018
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by postman

One quick look back as we leave for Ringmoor, soon be back though.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Jun 27, 2018
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by A R Cane

Panorama looking eastish on what was quite a miserable wet day on the moor.

Image credit: A R Cane
A R Cane
A R Cane Aug 8, 2014
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by A R Cane

One of the larger stones with quite obvious drill holes. It seems this circle has been quite mauled in the past.

Image credit: A R Cane
A R Cane
A R Cane Aug 8, 2014
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by A R Cane

Panorama looking broadly north. The stone with the drill holes is in the foreground to the right.

Image credit: A R Cane
A R Cane
A R Cane Aug 8, 2014
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by thesweetcheat

The most easterly stones turn their faces towards the last of the sunshine.

Image credit: A. Brookes (23.9.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 1, 2013
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by thesweetcheat

South across the china clay works to Saddleborough, another hill covered in prehistoric remains.

Image credit: A. Brookes (23.9.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 1, 2013
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by thesweetcheat

Looking SE towards (I think) Great Trowlesworthy Tor, clustered about with its own circles and rows.

Image credit: A. Brookes (23.9.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 1, 2013
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by thesweetcheat

The circle relates to Legis Tor in a way reminiscent of other circles and rocky outcrops (Boskednan/Carn Galva, Tregeseal/Carn Kenidjack, Nine Stones Close/Robin Hood’s Stride, to name but three).

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.7.2010)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Aug 9, 2010
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by thesweetcheat

Just outside the ring, especially on the eastern side, I noticed a number of quartz-veined pebbles, seemingly in a sort of minilithic outer ring(?). Here’s an example.

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.7.2010)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Aug 9, 2010
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by thesweetcheat

Even a downpour can’t detract from this magnificent circle.

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.7.2010)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Aug 9, 2010
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by Lubin

Brisworthy Circle with Legis Tor in the background.

Image credit: Peter Castle ©
Lubin
Lubin Jun 1, 2007
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by Meic

Brisworthy Circle – 12th July 2004

Image credit: Michael Mitchell
Meic
Meic May 6, 2007
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by Moth

Sunday 3 July 2005 The circle nestling on the hillside, looking roughly south from the direction of Ringmoor

Image credit: Tim Clark
Moth
Moth Jan 8, 2006
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by Moth

Sunday 3 July 2005 Looking roughly north towards Ringmoor, out of sight at the top of the hill

Image credit: Tim Clark
Moth
Moth Jan 8, 2006
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by Moth

Sunday 3 July 2005 In the S quadrant of the circle, amongst the ferny undergrowth, there are stumps and fragments of the ‘missing’ stones. You can even see the drillholes on this one – thank goodness they didn’t destroy the whole gorgeous circle....

Image credit: Tim Clark
Moth
Moth Jan 8, 2006
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by Moth

Sunday 3 July 2005 Looking roughly WSW back towards Brisworthy farm

Image credit: Tim Clark
Moth
Moth Jan 8, 2006
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by Moth

Sunday 3 July 2005 Looking roughly SW straight towards Shaugh Lake china clay works. What a shame.

Image credit: Tim Clark
Moth
Moth Jan 8, 2006
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by Moth

Sunday 3 July 2005 Looking roughly south towards the Lee Moor china clay works

Image credit: Tim Clark
Moth
Moth Jan 8, 2006
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by Moth

Sunday 3 July 2005 Looking roughly SE, Legis Tor on left and Great Trowlesworthy Tor on right horizon. Trowlesworthy Warren circle, stone rows etc are just beyond on the other side of the tor....

Image credit: Tim Clark
Moth
Moth Jan 8, 2006
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by Lubin

A photo of the Brisworthy stone circle with Legis Tor in the background.

Image credit: Peter Castle ©
Lubin
Lubin Feb 24, 2005
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by pure joy

Brisworthy Stone Circle – 25.6.2004 – the northern and western sections of the circle

Image credit: Martin Bull
pure joy
pure joy Jul 4, 2004
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by pure joy

Brisworthy Stone Circle – 25.6.2004 – two stones in the northern section of the circle

Image credit: Martin Bull
pure joy
pure joy Jul 4, 2004
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by pure joy

Brisworthy Stone Circle – 25.6.2004 – from a cairn type thing in the east sector of the circle, looking across the north part of the circle.

Image credit: Martin Bull
pure joy
pure joy Jul 4, 2004
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by pure joy

Brisworthy Stone Circle – 25.6.2004 – looking across the circle, from the bracken in the southern section of the circle

Image credit: Martin Bull
pure joy
pure joy Jul 4, 2004
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by johan

A close up of 2 stones in Brisworthy SC. Looking up the hill, beyond which is Ringmoor.

Image credit: johan
J
johan Sep 4, 2003
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by johan

An arc of Brisworthy looking over towards the Shaugh Lake China Clay works – they really are a blight on the landscape!

Image credit: johan
J
johan Sep 4, 2003
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by johan

Brisworthy in its entirety. This is looking down the hill towards the field wall. The low hill behind the stones hides the view of Shaugh Lake China Clay Works, behind which lie the cairn cirlces and stone row/s of Shaugh Prior.

Image credit: johan
J
johan Sep 4, 2003
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by johan

Brisworthy looking towards Eastern Tor; Drizzlecombe lies beyond the Tor.

Image credit: johan
J
johan Sep 4, 2003
Image of Brisworthy Stone Circle by johan

Brisworthy looking up from the field wall, Ringmoor is over the hill.

Image credit: johan
J
johan Sep 4, 2003

Articles

Brisworthy Stone Circle

postman
postman Jul 1, 2018

The first time I came here it all felt a bit complicated to find, we even had to ask someone who was in their front garden for directions. But this time I threw caution to the wind, I drove all the way to the end of the road, by the farm, tucked the car as far out of the way as possible and walked off quietly down the footpath.
I wasn’t sure if we were going the right way, there’s no Brisworthy stone circle signs pointing the way, I was just following my nose, ha good one Chris.
The footpath leads out onto a rough pasture type field, in the far corner is a path, I doubt it is thee footpath though, either way, from there I could see some grey blobs shimmering in the midday midsummer sun, we made for them, and made them, they were some stones. Terrific.

Eric slumped against the tall oddly shaped stone that has been likened to a leaping Dolphin, whilst I go round inspecting the stones. A little over a century ago only three stones still stood, thank god it was restored, by a Reverand no less, H H Breton, thanks Rev.
Out of all the places we’re going today this is the only one I’ve been to before, as it happens, exactly 11 years ago to the day, I brought my 8yr old daughter last time after an aborted sunrise attempt at Downtor, but this time the weather can only be described as perfect, everything today has been perfect. To add to that perfection, Eric has agreed to go where ever I go, unlike daughter who last time didn’t want to go up the hill to the Ringmoor sites, I’ll be back one day I said. Eleven fricking years though. We leave Brisworthy for now and tread wearily up the hill.

Brisworthy Stone Circle

thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 14, 2010

The first of the “proper” Dartmoor circles I’ve visited, Brisworthy is brilliant, even in the 45 degree rain. It’s set on a sloping hillside, and the eye is immediately drawn to Legis Tor across the valley to the east. It reminds me of other circles that have intervisible rocky outcrops nearby – Boskednan/Carn Galva; Tregeseal/Carn Kenidjack; Nine Ladies/Robin Hood’s Stride. All of these must have been built to sit as part of the bigger natural landscape, it’s an unavoidable connection. The stones of the circle are nicely graded too, and around its outside (particularly on the east) I notice that there are quite a number of small quartz stones in the ground, almost as if there was an outer ring. Be interested to know what anyone else makes of that (if anything!).

Brisworthy Stone Circle

Jane
Jane Jul 10, 2005

Brisworthy stone circle reminded me a lot of Fernworthy in size of stones, diameter and ‘feel’. But whereas Fernworthy is held suffocated by trees, Brisworthy is free to breathe and today was bathed in warm sunshine. It seems to have a close relationship with a nearby tor. It’s on private land and we had to climb over a fence to get to it. Liked it here!

Brisworthy Stone Circle

pure joy
pure joy Jul 4, 2004

Brisworthy Stone Circle – 25.6.2004

Directions – I basically agree with the travel instructions on the Megalithic Walks link below. However, the hamlet of Brisworthy is definitely not the organised little cluster as the OS map suggests. It’s basically a couple of very rough working farms and a few houses, so parking is not clear or in abundance. And just to clarify that after walking up the lane there only seems to be one way out of that parcel of land, towards the stone circle. As the short lane ends keep towards the left hand wall of the field (signposted as the official path) and a stile leads you into the large field / moor land, circa SX562654 (i.e. there doesn’t seem to be a way out of this land directly towards to the circle). People with disabilities may obviously struggle with this stile. There is a gate next to it, but it was padlocked.

You’ll then find the circle 300 metres, due east, near the field boundary. This is clearly the ‘show’ circle in this area. South West Dartmoor has several cairn circles, and stones in some sort of circle, but this is the only really showy stone circle.

After several days of rain, I was blessed with sun tan weather which really made a rest at the stones a lovely prospect. Views towards Trowlesorthy (south east) and Legis Tor (east) are brilliant. With a keen eye the Stone Circle can be spotted from the Trowlesorthy area, partly hidden by some of the very few trees in the area.

Technically this doesn’t seem to be Access Land, but the chances of anyone stopping you seem remote, assuming you’re following the basic rules of the countryside.

Miscellaneous

Brisworthy Stone Circle
Stone Circle
Chance
Chance Apr 12, 2016

Details of stone circle on Pastscape

(SX 56476549) Stone Circle (NR) (1)
An 80ft diameter stone circle known as Brisworthy Circle composed of 22 stones (Plan). Prior to restoration in 1909 eighteen of these stones had fallen over. A “not very thorough” excavation yielded a small amount of charcoal and one rough flint flake. All the stones are broad, rather than pillars and in this circle is unusual (4). (2-4)
This stone circle stands on a south east facing slope at 270m OD. It comprises a slightly ovoid setting of 24 upright stones which are probably only half the original number. The survivors are placed very regularly, the largest measuring 1.4m x 0.9m x 0.7m high, the smallest 0.3m x 0.6m x 0.2m high. The mean internal diameter of the circle is 24.0m Surveyed at 1:10 000 on PFD with amendments to pre-restoration survey. (5) The circle has been re-surveyed by Prof Thom. (See illus card 2) (6) This feature is generally as described by Authority 5 though now possesses 25 in situ stones. (7)

Link

Brisworthy Stone Circle
Stone Circle
phil
phil Jan 13, 2002
Megalithic Walks site

Four colour photos and links to other Dartmoor circles. Here’s a snip from site...

Brisworthy is a very attractive site and a pleasant place to sit especially as there was a short burst of sunshine when we reached it making a break from a misty and overcast day. The circle is over 80ft (24.8m) diameter and made up of 27 stones from an original 42. They are grey granite, some with quartz veins running through them and large quartz crystals in them. There are several loose stones that have been added to the circle.

Topics

Brisworthy and Ringmoor? 3
Moth
Moth
Jan 2004

Sites within 20km of Brisworthy Stone Circle

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